PALMA
de MALLORCA, SPAIN / McLEAN, VA September 11, 2007 Playa Hotels
& Resorts, S.L., the company formed in 2006 by Grupo Barceló
in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, announced its acquisition of the 738 guestroom
all-inclusive Ocean Bavaro Spa and Beach Resort in Punta Cana in the Dominican
Republic. The property will be re-branded as a Barceló Resort and
renamed the Barceló Dominican Beach Resort.
The resort, which is only 12 miles from the Punta Cana International
Airport, also includes 3121 square feet of meeting space, a European-style
spa facility, a theater, and a new casino that was recently completed in
June 2007.
This is the third resort purchased in the Dominican Republic by Playa
Hotels & Resorts. In 2006, the company purchased the Breezes Punta
Cana Resort, Spa and Casino, which has been re-branded as the Barceló
Punta Cana Resort'a Barceló Premium branded hotel. The company
recently announced the addition of the Sunscape Casa del Mar Resort adjacent
to Casa de Campo. These acquisitions bring to nine the number of
hotels that Playa now owns in Mexico and the Caribbean.
"The Ocean Bavaro Spa and Beach Resort is a significant acquisition
to our growing portfolio of resorts in the best beach locations across
the Dominican Republic," said Bruce Wardinski, Chairman & CEO of Playa
Hotels & Resorts, S.L. "Under the Barcelo brand we will enhance
guest services and raise the quality of food and beverage to be comparable
with Barcelo's legendary all-inclusive programs. In addition, we
are planning improvements to the physical condition of the resort, including
a series of guestroom renovations."
"The Dominican Republic is well-positioned as a growing vacation and
meetings destination because of its pristine beaches, national ecological
parks and its wide array of championship golf courses. Playa Hotels
& Resorts continues to see much upside potential in the Dominican Republic,
with its array of resorts that appeal to a wide variety of North American
and international travelers," added Wardinski.
The Barcelo Dominican Beach Resort
Situated along famous Bavaro Beach, the Barcelo Dominican Beach Resort
is an expansive property. Its 738 guestrooms include 93 suites, perfect
for honeymoon travelers or guests seeking more spacious accommodations.
As an all-inclusive resort, the Barcelo Dominican Beach offers a selection
of three casual buffet restaurants, six gourmet a la carte restaurants,
two snack bars and seven cocktail lounges. The restaurants appeal
to a variety of tastes including a seafood restaurant, a Brazilian-style
restaurant, as well as Japanese, Mexican and Spanish cuisine. For
recreation there are two free-form swimming pools, one featuring a swim-up
bar, and both offering water activities throughout the day. On the
beach, complimentary water sports include windsurfing and kayaking, and
for families, the resort has a comprehensive children's program.
For entertainment there is a large theater that offers nightly shows
and a new casino that opened in June 2007. Palmaluna is the Resort's
convention facility that can service up to 350 guests with state-of-the-art
amenities and conference concierge service. There is also a business
center with high speed Internet connections.
The resort's spa, which is available to guests at an additional charge,
is sheltered under a thatched roof, and includes seven treatment rooms
that feature a wide array of European and tropical influenced facials,
body wraps and hydrotherapies, as well as manicures and pedicures. Treatments
are also available in open-air cabanas. The spa contains Vichy showers,
women's and men's saunas, a unisex steam room, an ocean-view spa tub and
an air-conditioned ocean-view fitness center with cardio machines, weight
machines, and free weights.
For more information about the Barcelo Dominican Beach Resort please
visit online at www.barcelo.com or call 1-800-BARCELO.
Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L., a Spanish company, is a private
equity fund that focuses on the acquisition and development of all-inclusive
beachfront resorts in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. Playa
is currently in active negotiations to acquire several additional hotels
as well as land for the development of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico,
the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Panama. Additional closings
are anticipated by year�s end. Playa has $1 billion
in available capital and has raised more than $580 million in equity funding
commitments from a small group of international institutional investors.
The company currently owns nine properties in Mexico and the Dominican
Republic. Additional information can be found on the Company's website
at www.playahr.com.
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's largest hospitality
and travel management companies and is based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The company, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, is 100% owned
by the Barceló family and has been run by three generations
of family members. Barcelo and its affiliates own, manage and lease
more than 150 hotels in 15 countries across 4 continents. Additional
information about Barcelois available at the company's website: www.barcelo.com. |